Peter Abrikian, Gleaner Writer

Verona the troubled Cherry Gardens wife (played by Maylynne Walton) sleeps while Alma, her sister from New York (played by Ruth Ho Shing) steals her passport during the rehearsal of 'Uptown Bangarag', at Little Little Theatre, Tom redcam Avenue, on Tuesday, December 19. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Intimately staged at The Little Little Theatre, Uptown Bangarang is a must-see for any connoisseur of Jamaican theatre. Basil Dawkins' dramedy of an 'uptown' family delightfully amuses even as it poignantly questions the building blocks of our society.

A cast of titanic talent is headed with flair and genius by Maylynne Walton. Simply put, she is brilliant. She plays the role of Verona, a housewife struggling to come to terms with a not-so-recent trauma. Her teetering trek along the brink of insanity prompts painful laughter, rooted somewhere between pity for her pain and empathy for her 'horrific' experience.

Douglas Prout ably supports her as onstage husband Edgar, a man of the cloth with a thriving television ministry, battling with his own carnality. Their son Abe, Lawrence 'Max' Woodham, does a convincing job of portraying a young man struggling with life, love and sexuality.

Alma, (Ruth HoShing), and her boyfriend Bobby, (Maurice Bryan), add a fantastic element of humour to the show. The antics of this dysfunctional pair leave us eventually wondering, who indeed, if anyone, in this Uptown Bangarang is mentally stable.

Maid of the family

Sakina Deer assumes the role of Precious, maid of the family, with ease and class. It is hard to believe that this is her stage debut in the non-musical realm.

Basil Dawkins is no stranger to drama. A 26-year-veteran playwright, his work continues to be relevant and entertaining. This script, almost three hours of run-time, flies by in a New York minute.

Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter, director, is on loan from the Caribbean American Repertory Theatre, West, Los Angeles. He has worked with Mr. Dawkins before Forbidden - 2001, and if this is the kind of quality that they produce together, may the partnership continue far, far into the future.

The treat that is Uptown Bangarang should not be enjoyed just once. Half the roles are double-cast. Watch it twice! The questions will remain as powerful, and the comparison between actors can only add to the already stellar experience. And, of course, Maylynne's splendour will be a pleasure to see night after night after night.

Edgar is also played by Andrew Lawrence.

Abe is also played by Richard Dickenson

Bobby is also played by Jerry Benzwick.

Basil Dawkins is no stranger to drama. A 26-year-veteran playwright, his work continues to be relevant and entertaining.